Scotty McCreery Opens Up About Longtime Love

Scotty McCreery has always kept his romantic life private, but he's finally opened up in public about his girlfriend of nearly five years.

As he spills in his new autobiography, Go Big or Go Home, McCreery has known his longtime lady, Gabi Dugal, since they were children, but they didn't get romantic until he returned to his hometown after American Idol. He tells Entertainment Tonight that while he was writing the book, he felt the time was finally right to let fans in on that part of his life.

"When we first started dating, I was 17 years old, 18 years old, just kinda been thrust into the limelight, and I said, 'Look, we can call the magazines and have a photo shoot, or we can just kinda keep it on the down low,'" the Season 10 American Idol champion says. "We decided to keep it low-key, but we've been together four and a half years now, so I figure it's time to talk a little bit more about her."

McCreery has also been sharing more about Dugal on social media since releasing the book, which details his rise from a North Carolina high school student to winning the iconic reality television competition and launching a successful country music career. He posted a picture on Instagram of them together at her recent graduation from college, where she studied to become a pediatric nurse.

"I can't wait to see what the future holds for her, but one thing is for certain, she's going to be a great nurse! Congrats Gabi!" McCreery proudly wrote.

McCreery's newfound openness only goes so far. He says he let Gabi decided what he should and shouldn't share about their relationship in Go Big or Go Home.

"I let her read the chapter and she was all, 'Oh, you've gotta take that out' or 'Nah, that's good,'" he admits. "Whatever she asks for, she gets."

McCreery's fans have seen Dugal before, though they might not have known it. She appeared in his videos for "The Trouble With Girls" and "Feelin' It."